In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Polk Audio. Polk Audio TSi400 is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the TSi100 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk TSi400 and Polk TSi100 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
TSi400 and TSi100 are members of Polk Audio's TSi series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the Polk TSi400 and Polk TSi100 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk TSi400 and Polk TSi100 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both TSi400 and TSi100 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk TSi400 |
Polk TSi100 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
TSi400 features a 1" Tweeter and 3 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer . On the other hand, the TSi100 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
TSi400 has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz whereas TSi100 has a frequency range of 61-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the TSi400 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the TSi100's min frequency of 61Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
TSi400 and TSi100 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. TSi400 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the TSi100's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk TSi400 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk TSi100, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
TSi400 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas TSi100 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the TSi400.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
TSi400 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. TSi100 has a Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
TSi400 has a bottom firing port whereas TSi100 has a rear firing ports. Polk TSi400's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk TSi100 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Polk TSi400's and Polk TSi100's external dimensions. Polk TSi400 has external dimensions of 985.0 x 208.0 x 369.0mm ( 38-3/4 x 8-3/16 x 14-1/2inch) whereas Polk TSi100 has external dimensions of 279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm ( 11.0 x 7.0 x 10.1inch) .
Polk TSi400 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 30.2mm wider, 705.6mm taller and 110mm deeper than Polk TSi100.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Polk TSi400 is approximately 767.5cm2 / 119.0inch2 and base area of the Polk TSi100 is approximately 460.5cm2 / 71.4inch2. The TSi400 requires 67% more surface area than the TSi100 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Polk TSi400?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of TSi400:
Tower speakerDetachable cloth grille (installed)Owners ManualWall-Mount templateOnline registration sheetPolk Audio product brochure
What's in the Box of Polk TSi100?
Here are the items that come with the TSi100:
2 Black bookshelf speakers Detachable cloth grille (installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owner's Manual Wall-Mount template Online registration sheet Polk Audio product brochure